Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Tome. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Will has been boating in South Carolina his whole life and four years ago made Charleston home with his wife, Kelsey. They purchased a classic Ellis lobster yacht, which can be distinguished in the harbor by its Downeast red hull. They’ve cruised up and down the SC coast on overnight trips, which is what made them fall in love with the cruising culture. With an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to contribute to the local maritime community, they founded PowerTime to make it easier for others to go boating. PowerTime offers luxury cruising boats exclusively shared among one owner and six members. The boats are meant for longer trips and have amenities you’ll need for overnights, like air conditioning! It’s thrilling to see PowerTime running in Charleston just in time for boating season. We have active members on the water already and are excited to see our fleet grow.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Mostly Smooth Sailing! One challenge has been educating boaters on a new way to go boating. We debuted at the Charleston Boat Show in January, and while there are other “boat clubs” in town, most people are unaware of what makes PowerTime different. Fractional membership is less joint amongst boaters than in other industries. For example, most private jet flyers don’t own and operate a plane but share them through fractional programs like NetJets or WheelsUp. New and seasoned boaters are still discovering that there is a way to go cruising without all the overhead of traditional boat ownership. Big boat people, let’s chat!
Another challenge has been around safety. Bigger boats are a lot more to handle, and while we don’t want that to be a barrier, it’s essential to put safety first. SC law requires very little of someone before they can drive a boat, so we can’t assume members are getting safe boating knowledge elsewhere. Safety on the water is essential for members, other boaters, and vessels; therefore, we offer a thorough powerboat training course to ensure our members are educated and competent. We plan to expand this training to non-members to make SC waterways safer for everyone.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about PowerTime?
PowerTime Charleston, an addition to the SailTime Group’s fractional boating programs, has officially opened downtown Charleston! Located at The Harborage at Ashley Marina, the new base is set to redefine boating in the Charleston market. Will and Kelsey Tome, PowerTime Base Owners, are looking to emphasize the cruising culture, enabling their members to take their PowerTime boat on overnights to explore new boating destinations. PowerTime offers members access to high-end powerboats without the financial burden of ownership. The PowerTime monthly fee covers most boat owners’ costs, including slip fees, insurance, routine maintenance, and cleaning. Memberships are available for the 2024 season on our 30ft Jeanneau Leader 9 WA! The club is actively recruiting local boat owners interested in placing their vessels in the fleet through PowerTime’s Boat Ownership Program. This program lets owners easily monetize their boats while PowerTime handles all management. Owners receive guaranteed annual access, professional care, and steady revenue to reduce ownership costs significantly. We plan to expand our offering in the future to include more boat training and provide sailors with an option via SailTime.
So, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you before we go? How can they support you?
We are all about the cruising lifestyle. We want to encourage and enable people to get out there, unplug, and feel the adventure of traveling by water. Let us know if you know of a fantastic destination or fun waterfront event! Please help us spread the word about what’s out there and how to get there. We plan to foster a community to get more people boating. We’d love help with anything that can help us pursue that goal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://powertimeboating.com/location/charleston/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powertimecharleston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powertimecharleston/
- Other: https://powertimeboating.com/location/charleston/membership/
